Lamorinda Briefs, Feb. 8

Planning commissioners will resume a hearing March 4 that was originally scheduled for February on the possible impacts of constructing a 315-unit apartment complex on Deer Hill Road.

Officials took public comment Jan. 7 on an environmental review of a plan to build the Terraces of Lafayette on 22 acres formerly known as "the Christmas tree lot." Environmental consultants also made a brief presentation on the report.

Commissioners questioned staff and asked for more information about some issues raised before deciding to continue their discussion. Staffers have asked for more time to respond.

Former Lafayette resident Daniel R. Masi and his Pace University Law School teammates have won top honors in a national baseball salary competition.

Masi and his colleagues won the 6th Annual Tulane National Baseball salary arbitration competition held Jan. 24-25 at the Tulane University Law School in New Orleans. They finished first among 40 competing law schools.

The event simulates legal procedures used by Major League Baseball to negotiate a player's salary once they are eligible for arbitration.

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Masi is a 2006 graduate of Acalanes High School. He is a member of the Pace Law Class of 2014 and will pursue a career in the sports industry.

ORINDA

Volunteers sought for bevy of committees

The City of Orinda seeks applications from resident volunteers to serve on a variety of city committees, including the Planning Commission and the brand new Public Safety Committee.

Five members are sought for that newly created committee.

Other openings are on the Planning Commission (3), the Art in Public Places Committee (2), the Citizens' Infrastructure Oversight Commission (3); the Finance Advisory Committee (2); the Historic Landmark Committee (1); the Parks & Recreation Commission (2); and the Public Works Aesthetic Review Committee.

The city also seeks volunteer applicants to serve as the City Liaison to the Contra Costa Transportation Authority Citizen Advisory Committee.

Statement of Interest forms are available from the Orinda City Clerk's Office, 22 Orinda Way. Also, you can go to www.cityoforinda.org and click on "city commission openings" on the homepage. Completed forms should be submitted to the City Clerk's Office by 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, and qualified rapplicants will be invited to interview before the full City Council on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2013.

The town is still seeking volunteers to serve on a number of boards. Applicants are being sought to fill openings on the ADA Advisory Committee, planning commission and Traffic Safety Advisory Committee.

Applications, supplemental questionnaires and resumes must be submitted to the town clerk's office by 4 p.m. Feb. 8.

College field lights appeal Feb. 27

The Town Council will hear an appeal Feb. 27 by Saint Mary's College of a Planning Commission directive to turn off its intramural field lights at 9 p.m. instead of 10 p.m.

Neighbors had expressed concerns with the lights and noise at the later hour.

Saint Mary's officials had asked the town officials for a delay in considering the appeal to allow college representatives to meet with campus neighbors. SMC to meet with neighbors. Commissioners had said they would consider reinstating the 10 p.m. lights-off time if the college could reach an acceptable agreement with nearby neighbors.

The college is working with an independent consultant to negotiate a solution with neighbors regarding the light and noise impacts.

Contra Costa

Grand jury applicants sought

The Contra Costa grand jury is seeking applicants for the 2013-14 fiscal year to oversee city and county governments, and school and special districts.

Grand jury members must be 18 years or older, US citizens and have resided in Contra Costa County for at least one year before selection. They can't hold any elected positions within the county and must be able to be released from their jobs to perform jury duties, among other requirements.

Sixty applicants will be selected to be interviewed by the grand jury Selection Committee. A final panel of 19 will be chosen by random drawing on June 14.

Interested applicants should contact the Office of the Civil grand jury at 925-957-5638 or visit www.cc-courts.org/grand jury.

Blue Star Moms contribute to 'Hearts4Heroes'

The central Contra Costa chapter of Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc., known as the "Blue Star Moms," packed care packages on Saturday as part of the national "Hearts4Heroes" campaign to give overseas troops Valentine's Day packages and cards.

Pat Soler of the local chapter -- and also national president of the Blue Star Mothers of America, said the packages were then taken to the Oakland Post Office. All of the mailing labels and custom papers were prepared in advance, making for an efficient process, she said.

Looking for love at the Lindsay museum

Love is in the air at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum from Valentine's Day through President's Day, with "Wild Valentines," a special, family-friendly presentation that explores how wild animals find mates, raise families and "love."

"Wild Valentines" will be presented Feb. 14 and 15 from noon to 5 p.m.; Feb. 16 and 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Feb. 18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

These presentations are free with the cost of standard Lindsay admission: $7 for adults and $5 for children (free for museum members). The museum is at 1931 First Ave., Walnut Creek, near Larkey Park. For more information, call 925-935 1978.

Paint collection sites established

Several paint collection sites have been set up as part of the California Paint Stewardship Program, which requires paint manufacturers to develop a system to retrieve leftover paint from household and commercial consumers.

The program will be funded by a "recovery fee" attached to the purchase price of paint sold in California. That money will go to PaintCare, a nonprofit organization created to administer the state paint disposal and recycling programs. These fees go up to $1.60 per one- to -five-gallon container of paint.